“After life in the vastness of a vacant
continent, civilization seemed disappointingly narrow, cramped, superficial,
and empty.”
— Frank Hurley, photographer on Sir Ernest
Shackleton’s
ship Endeavor
Those words certainly ring true for me. As an older woman traveling alone to such a distant place, I knew that I would have to start planning well in advance and explore all my options before booking passage. While I didn’t realize it at the time I was considering such a trip, Frank Hurley’s comments would have a tremendous impact upon me upon my return.
The Internet provides a wealth of information for anyone planning this
kind of trip. The web site iExplore.com lists the top seven companies
offering expedition cruises to Antarctica. Ships sailing to Antarctica
are limited to carrying no more than 200 people aboard and the sailing
schedule runs from mid-November to mid-February.
After speaking with a woman who had traveled to Antarctica the year before,
I decided to book with Abercrombie & Kent. Her glowing account of
the trip and description of the fine service provided by A & K convinced
me. The other feature I found enticing was that there would be stops in
the W. Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
Booking well in advance saved me $500.00 I was also able to select the
least expensive cabin. One spends very little time in the cabin on an
expedition cruise. As it turned out, the cabin was extremely comfortable
and nicely furnished.
My journey began with a flight to Santiago, Chile.
